Last Thursday we went to the premier of the movie "Long Way Down". The
theater was virtually filled with riding enthusiasts to watch the 2 hour version of Ewen McGregor and Charley Boorman's
89 day, 15,000 mile trip from Scotland to Capetown, South Africa. Having not seen the first movie "Long Way Round", I had no idea what to expect of the production of this movie, but I have to say
that I was thoroughly entertained the entire time. For those of us that love long distance riding, we were all
walking out of the movie wanting to pack our bags and head out on the road the next day. Even though this trip
would be considered extreme, it still really got you wanting to get out on the open road and enjoy the world. It
is full of great scenery, humor and intrigue as they traverse their way through 3rd world countries and interact
with the locals along the way.

For those of you that could not make the movie, they have made a 10 part series for
television of the trip that is being run on the Fox Reality Channel on Saturday nights
at 6 and 8pm, channel 144 on Cox in Phoenix. It is a premium channel package bundled with about 15 other channels
that costs you $6.00 per month extra. The program is shown several times throughout the week, so check your
guide for when it is playing in your area. We saw the first one and it is great. Much better than I thought
it was going to be. The previews for this Saturday look excellent as well. So if you are a riding enthusiast, set
the DVR or TIVO to record this show for the next 9 weeks. You won't be disappointed. It is well worth the $18 you
will spend for the add on programming. I think the first one might even be on tonight.

While the dynamics of their trip were entertaining and fun to watch, I wasn't exactly anxious to ride some of the
roads they had to traverse to get there. I would much rather stick
to the roads that Mrs. C. and I followed on our California Trip 2008. When I left you 2 weeks ago we had just finished
the ride from Monterey through
San Francisco and North to the Fairfax Bolinas Rd. and
on to Corte Madera for the night. The next destination on the GPS was Lake Tahoe via Carson Pass, the
first of 4 passes we would travel over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. If you are coming from San Francisco to
get to Hwy 88, which is Carson Pass, I would just follow I-80 to Sacramento and then drop down on Hwy. 16 to 49
to Hwy. 88 and you will be on your way over the beautiful Sierra Nevada's and Carson Pass. We tried to make it
interesting by taking the back roads across and it is the same mileage and not worth it.

After experiencing the beauty of the Sierra Nevada's 5 years ago when crossing
the Sonora Pass, the idea of riding all 4 of these passes back to back had been on my list of things to do
since that time. Combining this ride with the loop around Lake Tahoe,
another place I had never ridden, was a natural. Carson Pass, named after famed explorer Kit Carson, traversed
by California Hwy. 88 was the most significant overland route during the California Gold Rush as well as the primary
route for shipping resources from California to assist in the Civil War This is a great road to start on if you
plan to do all of the passes. I would call it the kindler, gentler road of the bunch. No hairpins or switchbacks,
no rapid elevation changes and no real surprises. From Jackson on Hwy. 49 to Hwy. 89, is only 70 miles. However,
33 of those miles are above 7000 feet, with 5 miles above 8000 cresting Carson Pass at 8573 feet.

The road won't test your riding skills, but the raw beauty of the terrain that it goes
through and the views that it offers from all around, will have your eyes bugging out in every direction. As you ride up the hill through the Eldorado Forest you will
soon breakout to the granite outcroppings with
giant cedar pines magically growing
out of the rock. It still amazes how there can be a seemingly solid granite rock with a tree growing out of it.
You will then pass, Silver Lake, the beautiful
Kirkwood Meadow and stop
for a photo op of Caples Lake with the snow
capped mountains in the background before topping Carson Pass to start a couple
thousand foot decent to Hwy. 89, your turn to Lake Tahoe. If you are ever in the area, be sure and go out
of your way to ride Carson Pass, it is truly a beautiful stretch of highway
that will leave you wanting more.

After a short 16 mile ride North on Hwy. 89 you will reach South Lake Tahoe, home
of the second deepest lake in the United States. This is the point that you will have to make a decision if you
are going to start the Tahoe Circle, (which is split
down the middle by the California/Nevada state line), on the West side of the Lake or the East. I recommend following
89 on the West side of the lake so that you will always have the water on your right to give you the best
unencumbered view possible. In roughly 7 miles you will get your first view of Emerald Bay and Fannette
Island, probably the most famous landmarks on all of Lake
Tahoe. While you are there, you can stop for a visit of the famous Vikingsholm Castle located
at the head of Emerald Bay. Mrs. Lora Knight bought Emerald Bay and Fannette Island in 1928 for $250,000.
Shortly thereafter she brought in 200 workers to build the Scandinavian styled summer home which was finished in
the fall of 1929. The property is now owned by the California State Parks. We toured it 20 years ago, if
you have the time, it is a fascinating tour.

Once you have gotten all of your photo ops taken care of, you
will start a gradual climb out of Emerald Bay before reaching Lake level again for most of the rest of your ride
around the lake. The ensuing 46 miles to the Hwy. 50 intersection will take you through several small villages and across the Nevada State line while giving you intermittent peeks of the lake. Even though
it is only 72 miles to complete the loop around the lake, don't plan on making it in much under 3 hours. With a
couple of sightseeing stops and lots
of cars doing the same to contend with, it can be a tedious trip if taken at the wrong time. But that being said,
it is still worth the effort to see this massive lake and picturesque surroundings.

Instead of staying in the Lake Tahoe area, we decided to take Hwy. 50 down the
hill 14 miles to Carson City, the
capital of Nevada. I had always wanted to see where Bonanza was supposedly originated in the old town of Virginia
City. So staying in Carson would get us just a little bit closer and it was a good place to spend the night. Our
8 hours of riding this day tallied out at 307 miles, which was just about right considering the slow pace
around Lake Tahoe.

This was one of those riding days that was kind of uninteresting for the first
3 hours of travel getting to where we wanted to be, but after that, the beauty of the next 5 hours more than made
you forget how you got there. Once again, Carson Pass is a
great little road to sit back, cruise, enjoy the scenery and not be challenged by the road. It is one of the most
visually dramatic of the trans-Sierra highways. You will witness jagged volcanic skylines, green meadows, deep
blue mountain lakes backed by snow covered slopes and majestic mountain views all around. I would highly recommend this roadway. Lake
Tahoe with the enormous body of water backed by mountain views is an awesome sight and a ride that I would recommend
as well. I have posted 118 photos that will really give you a feel for the area. We had a perfect blue skied day
that was excellent for taking pictures. I hope you enjoy.

New!Chandler
Harley-Davidson Bike Night at Tilted Kilt Mesa. Stop by the brand new Tilted
Kilt in Mesa for Thursday Bike Night sponsored by Chandler Harley-Davidson. Sit
out on the spacious patio or the cool inside. No matter where you are there will be the Tilted Kilt girls there
to wait on you. Enjoy great food and drink, Door Prize Drawings, Music and 15% off your entire ticket on Bike Night.
The NEW Tilted Kilt is located at 1910 S. Gilbert Rd. in Mesa. 480-507-5458.New!Chester's
Harley-Davidson Bike Night at Dos Gringos Mesa. Ride by the New Dos Gringos
Mesa located on the northwest corner of Greenfield and Baseline in Mesa. Dos
is sure to make an impact and add some flare to the east valley. Enormous patio, complete with its own outdoor
bar and separate dining areas on each side. Dos is a casual neighborhood hangout with great food and cold cervezas.
Feel free to dine at one of our four tops, relax at one of the booths lining the edge or just belly up to the bar.
Click Here
to View. There will be drink and food specials and Raffles
and Fun from Chester's Harley-Davidson. Ride with Chester's from the dealership at 5:30pm every Thursday located
at 922 S. Country Club Dr. in Mesa. 480-894-0404.Hooter's
Thursday Bike at Peoria location. The
parking lot will be blocked off and it will be a night for MOTORCYCLES.
Ride by Hooters in Peoria every Thursday night for Prizes, Giveaways every 1/2 Hour, Specials and of course
great service by the Hooter's Girls. Enjoy $2.00 Bud and Bud Light Pints and $5.00 Bombers as well as those
tasty Hooter's Wings. Sit on the huge outdoor patio and watch your favorite sporting event or inside with TV's
every where you look. Enjoy this perfect riding weather with a ride to Hooter's this Thursday. Plan
to check out the first night. 16550 N. 83rd Ave. just South of Bell Rd. 623-776-0123.The
Bike Night At The Billet Bar. Voted
"BEST BIKER BAR IN PHOENIX" by New Times.There is no better place to watch all the Bikes ride down Scottsdale road than from
The Billet Bar Patio.The
Billet is ALWAYS packed with bikes Every Day. Stop by and take a look at the New Flamed Booths
on the Paradise Patio. The new bars front and rear provide spacious seating, fresh air atmosphere, perfect temperature
and courteous staff. The food is amazing and always the latest in cold libations await. You can sit at the back
bar and watch your favorite TV on any of the seven big inch televisions. Play pool, listen to the latest music
and socialize. The front patio seats over 75 people and is perfect for people watching on Scottsdale Rd. The Billet
Bar is located on 3752 N. Scottsdale Rd. Check it out this Thursday night and all weekend long. Info: at 480-941-1876.
Click Here
for the New Billet Bar Page with pictures.

This Week

Thursday, August 7thBuddy Stubbs
Presents Ladies Night! Buddy Stubbs is having a Special Night just for the
Ladies. Stop by for some Hors D'Oeuvres, Beer, Wine, Harley Hunks
Fashion Show, Easy-To-Learn Bike Tips, Free $10 Card. No Guys, No Pressure. Lots of Fun! RSVP to Ronday at
602-971-3400. $10 admission. This is a good opportunity to meet some other Women Riders. Buddy Stubbs is located
at 13850 N. Cave Creek Rd. in Phoenix, AZ. 602-971-3400.

Saturday, August 9thWatch St. Pierre
vs Fitch at Hacienda North. How about something different to do on a Saturday
Night! Ultimate fight - St. Pierre vs Fitch on pay per view in the newly remodeled upstairs mega party place at
Hacienda North. Come watch it here for free. A great place to hang
out and watch the fight. We will have heavy hor d'eouvres and beverages. Cocktails are available- beer $2.00 Donation
and mixed drinks $3.00 Donation. The party in May for the Ultimate fight was extremely well attended. This is a
great atmosphere to watch these fights. Hacienda North is located at 15750 N. Northsight Blvd. in Scottsdale, AZ.
480-991-7977.
Saturday, August 9thChester's
Harley-Davidson "Lifesaver" Blood Drive. Are you a Bloodhound?
Be a Life Saver. Come sniff out our blood drive with United Blood Service
and a FREE LUNCH is on US! It is also Dog Days of Summer at Chester's with a visit from the AZ Humane Society.
Be a Lifesaver and Adopt a Dog. This all takes place from 9am - 1pm. Chester's is located at 922 S. Country Club
Dr. in Mesa, AZ. 480-894-0404.

Next Week

Saturday, August 16thChester's
Harley-Davidson Ride With Us to Ft. McDowell/Saguaro Lake. Now this is the
time to take a ride to higher elevations. Ride with Chester's on a 160 mile round trip to Payson and Mazatzal Casino
for lunch. Chester's Ride With Us is quickly becoming a popular
event every month at the dealership. Riders from all over the valley make their way to Chester's for
these rides. This is a good opportunity to ride with some friends that you haven't met yet. Saddle up with Chester's
Harley-Davidson for this 160 mile round trip ride to Payson for lunch. Ride Starts and Ends at Chester's
located at 922 S. Country Club Dr. in Mesa. Registration from 8:30am - 9:00am. Kickstands up at 9am. This is a
FREE ride for ALL riders. Call 480-894-0404 to Pre-Register by August 13th to reserve your spot.

Saturday, August 16thBikini Contest
to Crown Miss Arrowhead Harley-Davidson 2009. It's Summer, It's Hot, It's
time for a Bikini Contest!
Ride on over to Arrowhead HD for a good old fashioned Bikini Contest to see who will be crowned Miss Arrowhead
Harley-Davidson 2009. Watch the girls perform on stage to the music
of their choice as they try to impress the judges to earn the $500 First Place, $300 Second Place or
$100 Third Place money. There will be 2 rounds. First round will include a question to show personality and
public speaking, 2nd round the contestants will be given an AHD T-shirt and a pair of scissors to design,
cut up and model. Winner will represent AHD for the at RideNow and other events like Bike Week. Bikini Contest starts at 12 Noon with the finals at 2PM. Enjoy Floats & The S.S. Wiener! Rootbeer floats & hot dog cart returns with Brian
at the helm from 11am - 2pm. Enjoy DJ Music and More. Want to
be a guest Judge for the Bikini Contest? Judge selection will
be at 12 Noon. Bike Wash from 10am - 2pm. First come first served. While you are there you can take a look at the
new 2009 model Harley's that are arriving daily. 20% off Men's HD Beach Wear and Towels. If you would like to compete in the contest, call Dan Herrera at 623-247-5542 or email Dan at dherrera@ridenow.com . Arrowhead HD is located at 16130 N. Ftn. Ctr. Dr. in Peoria. Just South of 83rd
Ave. and Bell Rd.

Saturday, August 16thBuddy Stubbs
Harley-Davidson and Miller Lite Summer Evening Blockbuster Party. We
are all looking for something to do on a Saturday night. Finally, the Summer event you have been waiting for! It all takes place Saturday, August 16th from 6pm - 9pm. To celebrate, Harley-Davidson's
105th Anniversary, Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson, Phoenix's Premier Harley-Davidson dealership and Miller Lite will
be giving away new motorcycles on August 16th. Come enjoy the huge cooled Miller beer garden in the North parking
lot, great Live Music by Breakdown, and your chance to win a motorcycle: Everyone who signs up that night gets
a chance to win. If your key starts it, you'll ride it home! Really! Everyone has the chance to win a brand
new VROD that night. Admission is free. Lots of parking and fun. You will also be able to check out the new
2009 models! See you there. Call 602-971-3400 for more information. 13850 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, 85022. www.buddystubbs.com.

Extras

Since the Olympics are starting tomorrow, I
thought it would be nice to have a little video collection of those that didn't quite make it to the olympics.
Click
Here to View.

If any of those bad guys from across the pond ever think about interrupting a presidential
motorcade, they might want to think again. There could be a
little surprise waiting for them. Click Here to View.

This video has been going around the interenet like crazy. It
is a great exhibition of group riding by a 1950's Italian Police Motorcycle Drill team. They are really
good. Click Here to View.

You might have seen the new ad by John McCain claiming Obama to
be nothing more than a celebrity and comparing him to Paris Hilton. Paris has now rebutted with a funny video ad
of her own. In fact, amazingly, she even makes some sense in her own way. Click Here to View.